Multi-section boat sail

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a boat sail comprising a first ( 4 ) and a second ( 6 ) sheet, having similar shape and dimensions, coupled each other in correspondence of the outer perimeter and by a plurality of transverse ribs ( 12 ), provided between said sheets ( 4, 6 ), suitable to divide said sail into multi-sections ( 11 ), said sail ( 2 ) being characterised in that it provides a valve ( 14 ), that can be opened and closed to allow the air to enter within said sail into the space between said first ( 4 ) and second ( 6 ) sheets, at least a retractor element ( 15 ) provided on each rib ( 12 ), that can take two positions, respectively for the closure of the rib ( 12 ) and for opening the same, in order to make the sail taking a wing contour shape, and means ( 16 ) for opening and closing said retractors.

[0001] The present invention concerns a boat sail.

[0002] More specifically, the invention refers to a three-dimensionalboat sail. Even more particularly according to the invention thesolution results to be more advantageous for high performance boats, forexample catamarans and windsurfs.

[0003] As it is well known, a rigid sail considerably improves theperformances of a boat, especially concerning the speed.

[0004] A problem of the sailing boats, especially of the ones with highperformance, is the difficulty of reconciling the advantages of using arigid sail with the disadvantages of the high costs, the bulk, sincethey can be not folded up, and the high weight.

[0005] Particularly, in the case of windsurfs, it would be practicallyimpossible to carry a rigid sail on the car roof, as usually happenswith the traditional sails, that can be folded up or winded round themast.

[0006] Rigid sails, realised in aluminium so that to have a reducedweight, are nowadays used on particular kinds of racing boats, forexample catamarans, but their use is limited to the competitions. Theapplied technology, in fact, especially for the high costs and bulk, hasnever used for current boats.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide for athree-dimensional sail, easily lowered and hoisted, and therefore foldedup, of reduced weight and dimensions, but at the same time with highperformance.

[0008] The GB 1.222.899 describes a sail provided for a sheet offlexible material, coupling to a support so that to receive the windimpact, a inflatable space, integral to said sheet, said space havingopposite sides of flexible material to define an external outline, andexposed opening means, integral to said space, placed so that to receiveair during the normal use of the sail.

[0009] The GB 2.295.998 patent describes a sail with an internalmembrane and two external ones, fixed both round the outline of a siderespect to the sail, with a respective pocket. The width of the space ofthe internal membrane is inferior to the one of the external membrane ofthe sail, so that to, during the use, the sail has an aerodynamictransversal section. An inflatable separated space is provided for nextto the fore outline of the sail.

[0010] The known previous solutions are characterised by somedisadvantages that have avoided the practical development.

[0011] Firstly, according to the prior art, the sails, if feltoverboard, fill with water, compromising the floatation of the sail andthe boat both.

[0012] Moreover, said sails do not have a variable outline respect tothe tack (provenience direction of the wind respect to the boat), onwhich the boat is proceeding, so that there is not an optimumutilisation of the features of the sail in sections.

[0013] Considering the above, it is specific aim of the presentinvention to supply a sail with features able to overcome the mentioneddisadvantages.

[0014] The main object of the invention is to supply a sail withvariable wing outline, auto-inflatable and unsinkable.

[0015] The three-dimensional sail, realised according to the invention,can be applied on every kind of sail boat (sporting, windsurf,catamaran) and, considering its structural features and lightness, canbe easily fold up and transported.

[0016] Moreover, the three-dimensional sail can rapidly turn into atraditional sail.

[0017] The above mentioned and other objects of the invention result tobe clearer with the description of its preferred embodiments withreference to the enclosed figures, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the sail forboats realised according to the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a first view of a particular of the sail of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a second view of a particular of the sail of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a partial lateral view of an embodiment of the sail forboat realised according to the present invention; and

[0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective partial view of the sail of FIG. 4.

[0023] In the description of the different embodiments, to indicate thesame elements, will be used the same numerical references.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 1 to 3, it is shown a sail 2 fortriangular boat, realised according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, comprising a first 4 and a second 6 sheet, with the sameshape and dimension, coupled with a seam on the external outline. Two 4and 6 sheets are joined with several transversal textile ribs 12, thatdivide the sail 21 in horizontal sections 11.

[0025] Two sheets 4 and 6 and the transversal ribs 12 are realised withsynthetic material of nautical kind and joined with ribs.

[0026] The sail 2 is supported in a traditional way by a mast and by aboom (not shown).

[0027] In the inferior part of the sail is provided for a valve 14, thatallows the entry and exit of air internal to the sail 2, between thesheet 4 and 6.

[0028] Corresponding with the ribs 12 are provided for retractors 15,vertically joined by a cable 16, that during the sail hoisting 2, allowto stretch the ribs 12, so that to obtain a wind outline.

[0029] Said retractors 15 can be horizontal and vertical and it is alsopossible to provide for a great number of retractors 15 for any rib.

[0030] In FIG. 1 are even shown the sticks 17, that can be realised inany suitable material, as for example fibreglass, carbon, etc.

[0031] The valve 14 allows the entry of the air between the sheets 4 and6 of the sail 2, during the hoisting, so that the sail 2, according tothe invention, results self-inflatable.

[0032] When inflated, the valve 14 is closed, so that, in case offalling overboard of the sail, it results unsinkable.

[0033] The valve 14 can be provided for on the sail 2 in any convenientposition.

[0034] The ribs 12 are provided for holes 28 for the air passing in thedifferent section of the sail 2.

[0035] From the FIGS. 2 and 3 it is possible to better observe thestructure of the retractor 15 and its action of giving a wind outline tothe sail 2 according to the invention.

[0036] The retractor 15 is made of two parts 15′ and 15″, laterallyjoined to the sheets 4 and 6, and centrally coupled so that to beingmoved closer or away, as a bridge or a folding. The closing and theopening of the hemi-parts 15′ and 15″ of the retractor is obtained witha cable 16 that, if forced according to arrow A of FIG. 2 determines theclosing of the hemi-parts 15′ and 15″, closing the sail, and if forcedaccording to arrow B of FIG. 3 determines the opening of the hemi-parts15′ and 15″, giving to the sail the wind outline.

[0037] With reference to the FIG. 4 and 5, it is shown a secondembodiment of the sail according to the invention.

[0038] Particularly, with respect to the sail of FIGS. 1 and 2, thefirst 4 and the second 6 sheets are coupled each other, by a sewing line23, in such a way that a portion of the sail 2, from the sewing line 23to the outer perimeter of the same sail, from the balumina side, isflat.

[0039] Still more particularly, from the sewing line 23 up to thebalumina side, it can be provided only one of the two sheets 4 or 6.

[0040] Furthermore, to better help the inflating and deflating motion ofthe sail, transverse ribs 12 are realised by a first 12 a and a second12 b part, said parts being symmetrical and coupled each other bysewings 24, or other coupling system, along a median line, realising afolding line.

[0041] Sail 2 is not directly coupled to the mast 8, but provides a mastpocket 25, coupled to the first 4 and to the second 6 sheet by sewings26. Said pocket can also be comprised by two edges 25 a and 25 b,coupled by a Velcro® strip, or by other coupling means. Said mast pocket25 confers to the sail a still more lifting profile, able to conform tothe particular wind conditions due to the different paces, conferring tothe same sail a further advantage with respect to the traditional sails.

[0042] Sail 2 and the mast pocket 25 are respectively provided withpockets 28, 28′, for the insertion of the stiffening slats.

[0043] Said pockets 28 of the sail allow the insertion of the slats fromthe balumina side, in case the mast pocket 25 is realised by twocoupable edges 25 a, 25 b.

[0044] This second solution allows to realise a balumina side withoutslat tensioning means, that otherwise would worsen the aerodynamicprofile of the sail.

[0045] Sail 2 can be realised with each shape and model, and thus can beused for each kind of sailing boat, catamaran or windsurf.

[0046] The present invention has been described for illustrative but notlimitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it isto be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced bythose skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope asdefined in the enclosed claims.

1. Boat sail comprising a first (4) and a second (6) sheet, havingsimilar shape and dimensions, coupled each other in correspondence ofthe outer perimeter and by a plurality of transverse ribs (12), providedbetween said sheets (4, 6), suitable to divide said sail intomulti-sections (11), said sail (2) being characterised in that itprovides a valve (14), that can be opened and closed to allow the air toenter within said sail into the space between said first (4) and second(6) sheets, at least a retractor element (15) provided on each rib (12),that can take two positions, respectively for the closure of the rib (12and for opening the same, in order to make the sail taking a wingcontour shape, and means (16) for opening and closing said retractors.2. Sail (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that said valve (14)is provided in the lower portion of the sail (2).
 3. Sail (2) accordingto claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said at least one retractor (15)is comprised of two hemi-parts (15′, 15″), comprised of rigid material,having one end coupled to one of said sheets (4, 6), and the other endcentrally coupled to the corresponding end of the other hemi-part, saidcentral ends being hinged in such a way to open and close the retractor(15), said retractor opening and closure means (16) acting on saidcentral ends of the hemi-parts (15′, 15″) of the retractor (15).
 4. Sail(2) according to each one of the preceding claims, characterised in thatit is provided more than one retractor (15) for each rib (12).
 5. Sail(2) according to each one of the preceding claims, characterised in thatsaid first (4) and second (6) sheets are further vertically coupledalong their sewing line (23), provided at a distance from the baluminaside which is a function of the kind of sail and/or boat.
 6. Sail (2)according to claim 5, characterised in that only one of said first (4)and second (6) sheets vertically coupled each other along a sewing line(23) continues up to the balumina side.
 7. Sail (2) according to eachone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said transverse ribs(12) are comprised of a first (12 a) and a second (12 b) part, saidparts being coupled along a median folding line.
 8. Sail (2) accordingto each one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it furthercomprises a mast pocket (25), frontally, outside, coupled to said sheets(4, 6), fixing said sail (2) to said mast (8).
 9. Sail (2) according toclaim 8, characterised in that said mast pocket (25) is comprised of asingle edge, the sail being introduced on the mast from above, or fromthe bottom.
 10. Sail (2) according to claim 8, characterised in thatsaid mast pocket (25) is comprised of a first (25 a) and a second (25 b)edge, coupling in correspondence of the mast by coupling means.
 11. Sail(2) according to claim 10, characterised in that said coupling meanscomprise a Velcro® strip or a plurality of rings, said rings beingcoupled by ropes, or a plurality of snap or simple buttons.
 12. Sail (2)according to each one of the preceding claims, characterised in that itprovides a plurality of pockets (28) for the slats.
 13. Sail (2)according to claim 12, characterised in that the opening between saidpockets (28) for the slats is provided on the mast side.
 14. Sail (2)according to claim 12, characterised in that the opening between saidpockets (28) for the slats is provided on the balumina side.
 15. Sail(2) according to one of the preceding claims 8-10, characterised in thatsaid mast pocket (25) is provided with slats pockets (28′) on bothsides.
 16. Sail (2) according to each one of the preceding claims,characterised in that said first (4) and second (6) sheets and said ribs(12) are comprised of nautical synthetic tissue.